WO2018048105A1 - Touch input apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch input apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is capable of detecting the pressure of touch on a touch surface, and comprises: a display module including a display panel; a substrate which is arranged below the display module and is a reference potential layer; and at least one pressure electrode formed on the display panel, wherein the display panel comprises electrodes used to drive the display panel, wherein a driving signal (Tx) applied to the pressure electrode is simultaneously applied to at least one of the electrodes used to drive the display panel, wherein the capacitance detected from the pressure electrode changes according to the change in distance between the pressure electrode and the substrate due to pressure applied on the touch surface, and wherein the pressure applied to the touch surface is calculated on the basis of a detected capacitance that is calculated from the capacitance detected from the pressure electrode.

Description

Touch input device

The present invention relates to a touch input device, and more particularly, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance occurring between a pressure electrode for pressure detection and a display panel or a substrate on which the pressure electrode is formed. It relates to a touch input device that can be improved).

Various types of input devices are used for the operation of the computing system. For example, input devices such as buttons, keys, joysticks, and touch screens are used. Due to the easy and simple operation of the touch screen, the use of the touch screen is increasing in the operation of the computing system.

The touch screen may constitute a touch surface of a touch input device that includes a touch sensor panel, which may be a transparent panel having a touch-sensitive surface. Such a touch sensor panel may be attached to the front of the display screen such that the touch-sensitive surface covers the visible side of the display screen. By simply touching the touch screen with a finger or the like, the user can operate the computing system. In general, a computing system may recognize a touch and a touch location on a touch screen and interpret the touch to perform computation accordingly.

In this case, there is a need for a touch input device capable of detecting not only a touch position according to a touch on a touch screen but also an accurate touch pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a touch input device capable of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance occurring between a pressure electrode and a display panel or a substrate on which the pressure electrode is formed in the amount of capacitance change detected from the pressure electrode.

An apparatus according to an embodiment is a touch input device capable of detecting pressure of a touch on a touch surface, the apparatus comprising: a display module including a display panel; A substrate disposed under the display module, the substrate being a reference potential layer; And at least one pressure electrode formed on the display panel, wherein the display panel includes electrodes used to drive the display panel, and a driving signal Tx applied to the pressure electrode is applied to the display panel. The capacitance detected at the pressure electrode is simultaneously applied to at least one of the electrodes used to drive the light, and the capacitance detected by the pressure electrode is changed according to a change in the distance between the pressure electrode and the substrate due to the pressure applied to the touch surface. The magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface is calculated based on the detection capacitance calculated from the capacitance detected at the pressure electrode.

The pressure electrode may be spaced apart from the electrodes used to drive the display panel.

The pressure electrode may be formed directly on the display panel.

The display panel may include a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer disposed below the first substrate layer, and the pressure electrode may be directly formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer.

Here, further comprising a pressure sensor having the pressure electrode, the pressure sensor further comprises a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, the pressure electrode is disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. One of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may be attached to the display panel.

An apparatus according to an embodiment includes a touch input device capable of detecting pressure of a touch on a touch surface, comprising: a display module including a display panel and having a reference potential layer; A substrate disposed under the display module; And at least one pressure electrode formed on the substrate, wherein the driving signal Tx applied to the pressure electrode is simultaneously applied to the substrate, and the pressure electrode and the reference are applied by the pressure applied to the touch surface. The capacitance detected at the pressure electrode changes as the distance between the potential layers changes, and the magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface is calculated based on the detection capacitance calculated from the capacitance detected at the pressure electrode. .

Here, the pressure electrode may be formed directly on the substrate.

Here, further comprising a pressure sensor having the pressure electrode, the pressure sensor further comprises a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, the pressure electrode is disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. One of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may be attached to the substrate.

An apparatus according to an embodiment is a touch input device capable of detecting pressure of a touch on a touch surface, the apparatus comprising: a display module including a display panel; A substrate disposed under the display module; A first pressure electrode formed on the display panel; And a second pressure electrode formed on the substrate, wherein the display panel includes electrodes used to drive the display panel and is applied to any one of the first pressure electrode and the second pressure electrode. The driving signal Tx to be applied is simultaneously applied to at least one of the electrodes and at least one of the substrates used to drive the display panel, and the first pressure electrode due to the pressure applied to the touch surface. The capacitance detected by the other electrode of the first pressure electrode and the second pressure electrode to which the driving signal is not applied changes according to the change of the distance between the second pressure electrode and the second electrode. The magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface is calculated based on the detected capacitance calculated from the detected capacitance.

The first pressure electrode may be spaced apart from the electrodes used to drive the display panel.

The one electrode may be the first pressure electrode, and the other electrode may be the second pressure electrode.

The first pressure electrode may be directly formed on the display panel.

Here, the pressure sensor having the second pressure electrode, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, wherein the second pressure electrode is the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer Is disposed between, one of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may be attached to the substrate.

Here, the display panel may be bent by the pressure applied to the touch surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a touch input device that can significantly reduce or eliminate the parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrode and the display panel or the substrate on which the pressure electrode is formed in the capacitance change detected from the pressure electrode. .

1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of a capacitive touch sensor panel and a configuration for its operation.

2A and 2B are conceptual views illustrating the configuration of a display module in a touch input device.

3A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary pressure sensor in the form of an electrode sheet including a pressure electrode in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3B illustrates a method of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display module 200 among the changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a first example.

FIG. 3C illustrates a method of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display module 200 among variations in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. A cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a second example.

FIG. 3D illustrates a method for significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 among the changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. A cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a third example.

FIG. 3E illustrates a method of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 among the changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. It is sectional drawing of the touch input device which concerns on a 4th example.

4A to 4F illustrate a first example in which an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a touch input device.

5A to 5I illustrate a second example in which an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a touch input device.

6A to 6H illustrate a third example in which an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a touch input device.

7A to 7E illustrate pressure electrode patterns included in an electrode sheet for pressure detection according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8A and 8B illustrate the relationship between the magnitude of touch pressure and the saturation area in the touch input device to which the electrode sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

9A-9D illustrate a cross section of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the invention.

10A and 10B illustrate a fourth example in which an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a touch input device.

11A and 11B illustrate a method of attaching an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

12A to 12C illustrate a method of connecting an electrode sheet to a touch sensing circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

13A to 13D illustrate a configuration in which an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of channels.

14A to 14C illustrate an example in which the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention is directly formed on the touch input device.

15A to 15C illustrate the shapes of the first electrode and the second electrode included in the electrode sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. For example, certain shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be embodied in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention with respect to one embodiment. In addition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are different but need not be mutually exclusive. Like reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same or similar functions throughout the several aspects.

Hereinafter, a pressure sensor and a touch input device for detecting pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a capacitive touch sensor 100 is illustrated, but a technique of detecting a touch position in another manner may be applied according to an embodiment.

1A is a schematic diagram of a capacitive touch sensor 10 included in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration for its operation. Referring to FIG. 1A, the touch sensor 10 includes a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm, and a plurality of driving electrodes for operation of the touch sensor 10. TX1 to TXn) receives a detection signal including a driving unit 12 for applying a driving signal to the touch signal and information on an amount of change in capacitance that changes according to a touch on the touch surface of the touch sensor 10, and determines a touch and a touch position. It may include a detection unit 11 for detecting.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the touch sensor 10 may include a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. In FIG. 1A, although the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm of the touch sensor 10 form an orthogonal array, the present invention is not limited thereto. The electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may have any number of dimensions and application arrangements thereof, including diagonal, concentric circles, and three-dimensional random arrangements. Here, n and m are positive integers and may have the same or different values, and may vary in size according to embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be arranged to cross each other. The driving electrode TX includes a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn extending in the first axis direction, and the receiving electrode RX includes a plurality of receiving electrodes extending in the second axis direction crossing the first axis direction. RX1 to RXm).

In the touch sensor 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on the same layer. For example, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on the same surface of the insulating film (not shown). In addition, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on different layers. For example, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on both surfaces of one insulating film (not shown), or the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn may be formed. One surface of one insulating film (not shown) and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on one surface of a second insulating film (not shown) different from the first insulating film.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed of a transparent conductive material (for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) or ATO made of tin oxide (SnO 2) and indium oxide (In 2 O 3)). (Antimony Tin Oxide)) and the like. However, this is only an example and the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may be formed of another transparent conductive material or an opaque conductive material. For example, the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may include at least one of silver ink, copper, silver silver, and carbon nanotubes (CNT). Can be. In addition, the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may be implemented with a metal mesh.

The driver 120 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may apply a driving signal to the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn. In an embodiment of the present invention, the driving signal may be applied to one driving electrode at a time from the first driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn in sequence. The driving signal may be repeatedly applied again. This is merely an example, and a driving signal may be simultaneously applied to a plurality of driving electrodes in some embodiments.

The sensing unit 11 provides information about the capacitance Cm 101 generated between the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn to which the driving signal is applied and the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. By receiving a sensing signal that includes a touch can detect whether the touch position. For example, the sensing signal may be a signal in which the driving signal applied to the driving electrode TX is coupled by the capacitance Cm 101 generated between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX. As described above, a process of sensing the driving signals applied from the first driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be referred to as scanning the touch sensor 10. Can be.

For example, the sensing unit 110 may include a receiver (not shown) connected to each of the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm through a switch. The switch is turned on in a time interval for detecting the signal of the corresponding receiving electrode RX, so that the detection signal from the receiving electrode RX can be detected at the receiver. The receiver may comprise an amplifier (not shown) and a feedback capacitor coupled between the negative input terminal of the amplifier and the output terminal of the amplifier, i.e., in the feedback path. At this time, the positive input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to ground or a reference voltage. In addition, the receiver may further include a reset switch connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor. The reset switch may reset the conversion from current to voltage performed by the receiver. The negative input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to the corresponding receiving electrode RX to receive a current signal including information on the capacitance Cm 101 and then integrate and convert the current signal into a voltage. The sensor 11 may further include an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting data integrated through a receiver into digital data. Subsequently, the digital data may be input to a processor (not shown) and processed to obtain touch information about the touch sensor 10. In addition to the receiver, the detector 11 may include an ADC and a processor.

The controller 13 may perform a function of controlling the operations of the driver 12 and the detector 11. For example, the controller 13 may generate a driving control signal and transmit the driving control signal to the driving unit 12 so that the driving signal is applied to the predetermined driving electrode TX at a predetermined time. In addition, the control unit 13 generates a detection control signal and transmits the detection control signal to the detection unit 11 so that the detection unit 11 receives a detection signal from a predetermined reception electrode RX at a predetermined time to perform a preset function. can do.

As described above, a capacitance C having a predetermined value is generated at each intersection point of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX, and the capacitance when an object such as a finger approaches the touch sensor 10. The value of can be changed. In FIG. 1A, the capacitance may represent mutual capacitance Cm. The electrical characteristics may be detected by the sensing unit 11 to detect whether the touch sensor 10 is touched and / or the touch position. For example, it is possible to detect whether and / or a position of the touch on the surface of the touch sensor panel 100 formed of a two-dimensional plane formed of a first axis and a second axis.

More specifically, when the touch on the touch sensor 10 occurs, the position of the touch in the second axis direction may be detected by detecting the driving electrode TX to which the driving signal is applied. Similarly, the position of the touch in the first axis direction can be detected by detecting a change in capacitance from the received signal received through the receiving electrode RX when the touch sensor 10 is touched.

Although the mutual capacitive touch sensor 10 has been described in detail as the touch sensor 10, the touch sensor for detecting whether a touch is present and the touch position in the touch input device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention ( 10) is a magnetic capacitive method, surface capacitance method, projected capacitive method, resistive film method, surface acoustic wave (SAW), infrared method, optical imaging in addition to the above-described method It may be implemented using any touch sensing scheme, such as optical imaging, distributed signal technology and acoustic pulse recognition.

Hereinafter, a configuration corresponding to the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX for detecting whether a touch and / or a touch position may be referred to as a touch sensor.

In FIG. 1A, the driving unit 12 and the sensing unit 11 may configure a touch sensor controller capable of detecting whether the touch sensor 10 is touched and / or the touch position of the touch sensor 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensor controller according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a controller 13. The touch sensor controller according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be integrated and implemented on a touch sensing integrated circuit (not shown), which is a touch sensing circuit, in the touch input device 1000 including the touch sensor 10. . The driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX included in the touch sensor 100 may be included in the touch sensing IC through, for example, a conductive trace and / or a conductive pattern printed on a circuit board. The touch sensing IC may be positioned on a circuit board on which a conductive pattern is printed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the touch sensing IC may operate the touch input device 1000. It may be mounted on the motherboard for.

In the above, the operation method of the touch sensor 10 that detects the touch position has been described based on the mutual capacitance change amount between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the touch position may be sensed based on the amount of change in self capacitance.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating another capacitive touch sensor 10 included in a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and an operation thereof. The touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1B includes a plurality of single electrodes 30. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the plurality of single electrodes 30 may be arranged in a lattice shape at regular intervals, but is not limited thereto.

The driving control signal generated by the control unit 13 is transmitted to the driving unit 12, and the driving unit 12 applies the driving signal to the preset touch electrode 30 at a predetermined time based on the driving control signal. In addition, the sensing control signal generated by the controller 13 is transmitted to the sensing unit 11, and the sensing unit 11 receives the sensing signal from the single electrode 30 preset at a predetermined time based on the sensing control signal. Receive input. In this case, the detection signal may be a signal for the amount of change in the magnetic capacitance formed in the single electrode 30.

At this time, whether the touch on the touch sensor 10 and / or the touch position is detected by the sensing signal detected by the sensing unit 11. For example, since the coordinates of the single electrode 30 are known in advance, it is possible to detect whether the object touches the surface of the touch sensor 10 and / or its position.

In the above description, for convenience, the driving unit 12 and the sensing unit 11 have been described as being divided into separate blocks, but the driving signal is applied to the single electrode 30 and the sensing signal is input from the single electrode 30. It is also possible to perform in one driving and sensing unit.

Hereinafter, the display module 200 included in the touch input device 1000 will be described.

In the touch input device 1000 to which the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, the touch sensor 10 for detecting a touch position may be located outside or inside the display module 200.

The display module 200 of the touch input device 1000 to which the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), or an organic light emitting display (Organic). Light Emitting Diode (OLED) or the like may be a display panel. Accordingly, the user may perform an input operation by performing a touch on the touch surface while visually confirming the screen displayed on the display panel. In this case, the display module 200 receives an input from a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP), which is a central processing unit on a main board for the operation of the touch input device 1000, and desires a display panel. It may include a control circuit for displaying the content. Such a control circuit may be mounted on the second printed circuit board 210 (hereinafter referred to as second PCB) in FIGS. 11A to 13D. In this case, the control circuit for operating the display panel 200 may include a display panel control IC, a graphic controller IC, and other circuits necessary for operating the display panel 200.

2A and 2B are conceptual views illustrating a configuration of a display module in a touch input device to which a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. 2A and 2B, an LCD panel or an OLED panel is shown as the display panel 200A included in the display module 200, but this is only an example and any display panel may be applied to the touch input device 1000.

First, referring to FIG. 2A, a configuration of a display panel 200A using an LCD panel will be described.

Reference numeral 200A in the present specification may refer to a display panel included in the display module 200. As shown in FIG. 2A, the LCD panel 200A includes a liquid crystal layer 250 including a liquid crystal cell and a first substrate layer 261 including electrodes at both ends of the liquid crystal layer 250. On one surface of the first polarizing layer 271 and the second substrate layer 262 on one surface of the first substrate layer 261 in a direction facing the second substrate layer 262 and the liquid crystal layer 250. The second polarizing layer 272 may be included. In this case, the first substrate layer 261 may be a color filter glass, and the second substrate layer 262 may be a TFT glass. In some embodiments, at least one of the first substrate layer 261 and the second substrate layer 262 may be formed of a bendable material such as plastic. In FIG. 2A, the second substrate layer 262 is formed of various layers including a data line, a gate line, a TFT, a common electrode (Vcom), a pixel electrode, and the like. Can be done. These electrical components can operate to produce a controlled electric field to orient the liquid crystals located in the liquid crystal layer 250.

Next, the configuration of the display panel 200A using the OLED panel will be described with reference to FIGS. 3D to 3F.

As shown in FIGS. 3D to 3F, the OLED panel includes an organic material layer 280 including an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a first substrate layer 281 including electrodes on both ends of the organic material layer 280, and a second substrate. The first polarizing layer 282 may be included on one surface of the first substrate layer 281 in the direction opposite to the second substrate layer 283 and the liquid crystal layer 280. In this case, the first substrate layer 281 may be encapsulation glass, and the second substrate layer 283 may be TFT glass. In some embodiments, at least one of the first substrate layer 281 and the second substrate layer 283 may be formed of a bendable material such as plastic. In the OLED panel illustrated in FIGS. 3D to 3F, an electrode used to drive the display panel 200A, such as a gate line, a data line, a first power line ELVDD, and a second power line ELVSS, may be included. Can be. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) panel is a self-luminous display panel using the principle that light is generated when electrons and holes combine in the organic material layer when electric current flows through the fluorescent or phosphorescent organic thin film. Determine the color

Specifically, OLED uses a principle that the organic material emits light when the organic material is applied to glass or plastic to flow electricity. In other words, when holes and electrons are injected into the anode and cathode of the organic material and recombined in the light emitting layer, excitons are formed in a high energy state, and energy is emitted as the excitons fall to a low energy state to emit light having a specific wavelength. Is to use the generated principle. At this time, the color of light varies according to the organic material of the light emitting layer.

OLED is composed of line-driven passive-matrix organic light-emitting diode (PM-OLED) and individual-driven active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM-OLED) depending on the operating characteristics of the pixels constituting the pixel matrix. exist. Since both require no backlight, the display module can be made very thin, the contrast ratio is constant according to the angle, and color reproducibility with temperature is good. In addition, undriven pixels are very economical in that they do not consume power.

In operation, the PM-OLED emits light only during a scanning time at a high current, and the AM-OLED maintains light emission during a frame time at a low current. Therefore, the AM-OLED has the advantages of better resolution, greater area display panel driving, and lower power consumption than PM-OLED. In addition, each device can be individually controlled by embedding a thin film transistor (TFT), so it is easy to realize a sophisticated screen.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the LCD panel or OLED panel may further include other configurations and may be modified to perform display functions.

In this case, the touch surface of the touch input device 1000 may be an upper surface or a lower surface of FIGS. 2A and 2B as an outer surface of the display module 200. 2A and 2B, the top surface of the display module 200, which may be a touch surface, may be covered with a cover layer (not shown) such as glass.

In the above, the display module 200 included in the touch input device 1000 has been described. Hereinafter, a case in which the touch pressure is detected by applying the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention to the touch input device 1000 will be described in detail.

The pressure sensor according to the present invention may be configured in the form of an electrode sheet and may be attached to the touch input device 1000 including the display module 200 and the substrate 300. The display module 200 of the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention may include a display panel 200A and a display driving electrode for driving the display panel 200A. Specifically, when the display panel 200A is an LCD panel in addition to the display driving electrode, the display module 200 may include an LCD panel and a backlight unit 200B, and a display for operating the LCD panel. The panel control IC, the graphic control IC, and other circuits may be further included.

3A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary pressure sensor in the form of an electrode sheet including a pressure electrode in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the electrode sheet 440 may include electrode layers 450 and 460 between the first insulating layer 470 and the second insulating layer 471. The electrode layers 450 and 460 may include a first electrode 450 and / or a second electrode 460. In this case, the first insulating layer 470 and the second insulating layer 471 may be an insulating material such as polyimide. The first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may include a material such as copper. According to the manufacturing process of the electrode sheet 440, the electrode layers 450 and 460 and the second insulating layer 471 may be adhered with an adhesive (not shown) such as an optically clear adhesive (OCA). In some embodiments, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed by disposing a mask having a through hole corresponding to the pressure electrode pattern on the first insulating layer 470 and then spraying a conductive spray. Can be.

4A to 4F illustrate a first example in which a pressure sensor in the form of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a touch input device.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the cover layer 100 on which the touch sensor for detecting a touch position is formed and the display module 200 are laminated with an adhesive such as an optically clear adhesive (OCA). There may be. Accordingly, display color clarity, visibility, and light transmittance of the display module 200 which can be checked through the touch surface of the touch sensor may be improved.

 4A to 4F, the touch input device 1000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention illustrates that the cover layer 100 on which the touch sensor is formed is attached to the display module 200 by lamination with an adhesive. However, the touch input device 1000 according to the first example of the present invention may also include a case in which the touch sensor is disposed inside the display module 200 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. More specifically, in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cover layer 100 having the touch sensor formed thereon covers the display module 200, but the touch sensor is positioned inside the display module 200 and the display module 200 is formed of glass. The touch input device 1000 covered with the same cover layer may be used as the first example of the present invention.

Touch input device 1000 to which the pressure sensor in the form of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied is a cell phone (PDA), a personal data assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a tablet PC ), An electronic device including a touch screen such as an MP3 player, a notebook, and the like.

In the touch input device 1000 to which a pressure sensor in the form of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied, the substrate 300 may be touch input together with, for example, the housing 320 which is the outermost mechanism of the touch input device 1000. A circuit board and / or a battery for operating the apparatus 1000 may perform a function of wrapping a mounting space 310 in which the battery may be placed. In this case, a circuit board for operating the touch input device 1000 may be mounted with a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP) as a main board. A circuit board and / or a battery for operating the display module 200 and the touch input device 1000 may be separated through the substrate 300, and electrical noise generated in the display module 200 may be blocked.

In the touch input device 1000, the touch sensor or the front cover layer may be formed to be wider than the display module 200, the substrate 300, and the mounting space 310, so that the housing 320 may be touch sensor panel 100. The housing 320 may be formed to surround the display module 200, the substrate 300, and the circuit board.

The touch input device 1000 according to the first example of the present invention detects a touch position through a touch sensor, and arranges an electrode sheet 440 between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 to detect touch pressure. Can be. In this case, the touch sensor may be located inside or outside the display module 200.

Hereinafter, a configuration for pressure detection including the electrode sheet 440 will be collectively referred to as a pressure detection module 400. For example, in the first example, the pressure detection module 400 may include an electrode sheet 440 and / or a spacer layer 420.

As described above, the pressure detection module 400 includes, for example, a spacer layer 420 formed of an air gap, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4B to 4F. The spacer layer 420 may be made of an impact absorbing material according to an embodiment. The spacer layer 420 may be filled with a dielectric material in some embodiments.

4B is a perspective view of the touch input device 1000 according to the first example of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4B, in the first example of the present invention, the electrode sheet 440 may be disposed between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 in the touch input device 1000. In this case, the touch input device 1000 may include a spacer layer spaced apart from the display module 200 of the touch input device 100 and the substrate 300 to arrange the electrode sheet 440.

Hereinafter, the electrodes 450 and 460 included in the pressure sensor for detecting pressure are referred to as pressure electrodes 450 and 460 so as to be clearly distinguished from the electrodes included in the touch sensor. In this case, since the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are included in the rear of the display panel instead of the front, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be made of an opaque material as well as a transparent material.

In this case, in order to maintain the spacer layer 420 on which the electrode sheet 440 is disposed, a frame 330 having a predetermined height may be formed along the edge of the upper portion of the substrate 300. In this case, the frame 330 may be attached to the cover layer 100 with an adhesive tape (not shown). In FIG. 4B, the frame 330 is formed on all edges of the substrate 300 (eg, four sides of a quadrilateral), but the frame 330 is formed of at least a portion of the edges of the substrate 300 (eg, a quadrilateral). Only on three sides). According to an embodiment, the frame 330 may be integrally formed with the substrate 300 on the upper surface of the substrate 300. In an embodiment of the present invention, the frame 330 may be made of a material having no elasticity. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when pressure is applied to the display module 200 through the cover layer 100, the display module 200 may be bent together with the cover layer 100. Even if there is no deformation of the body, the magnitude of the touch pressure can be detected.

4C is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device including a pressure electrode of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4C and in some views below, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are shown separately from the electrode sheet 440, but this is for convenience only and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are included in the electrode sheet 440. Can be configured. As shown in FIG. 4C, the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be disposed on the substrate 300 as the spacer layer 420.

The pressure electrode for detecting the pressure may include a first electrode 450 and a second electrode 460. At this time, any one of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be a driving electrode and the other may be a receiving electrode. The driving signal may be applied to the driving electrode and the sensing signal may be obtained through the receiving electrode. When a voltage is applied, mutual capacitance may be generated between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460.

4D is a cross-sectional view when pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 illustrated in FIG. 4C. The lower surface of the display module 200 may have a ground potential for noise shielding. When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance d between the ground potential surface and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be reduced to d ′. In this case, the fringing capacitance is absorbed by the lower surface of the display module 200 as the distance d decreases, so that the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may decrease. have. Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by obtaining a reduction amount of mutual capacitance from the sensing signal obtained through the receiving electrode.

Although FIG. 4D has described the case where the lower surface of the display module 200 is the ground potential, that is, the reference potential layer, the reference potential layer may be disposed in the display module 200. In this case, when pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance between the reference potential layer disposed inside the display module 200 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is changed, and thus the magnitude of the touch pressure can be calculated by acquiring a change in capacitance from a sensing signal acquired through the receiving electrode. Can be.

Meanwhile, in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be driving electrodes and receiving electrodes. In this case, while a driving signal is applied to the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460, a detection signal may be output from the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460. The application of the driving signal to the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 and the output of the detection signal from the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be simultaneously performed. The amount of change in magnetic capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 and the reference potential layer of the display module 200 is obtained from the detection signals output from the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460. The magnitude of the touch pressure can be calculated.

In the touch input device 1000 to which the electrode sheet 440 is applied, the display module 200 may be bent or pressed in response to a touch applying pressure. The display module 200 may be bent or pressed to indicate deformation according to the touch. According to an exemplary embodiment, the position showing the greatest deformation when the display module 200 is bent or pressed may not coincide with the touch position, but the display module 200 may indicate bending at least in the touch position. For example, when the touch position is close to the edge and the edge of the display module 200, the position where the display module 200 is bent or pressed the greatest may be different from the touch position, but the display module 200 is at least the touch position. It may indicate bending or pressing at.

In this case, the upper surface of the substrate 300 may also have a ground potential for noise shielding. 9 illustrates a cross section of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 9A, a cross section of the case in which the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is attached to the substrate 300 or the display module 200 is illustrated. In this case, since the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are positioned between the first insulating layer 470 and the second insulating layer 471 in the electrode sheet 440, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are disposed on the substrate 300 or the display. Short circuits with the module 200 can be prevented. In addition, according to the type and / or implementation manner of the touch input device 1000, the substrate 300 or the display module 200 to which the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are attached may not exhibit a ground potential or may exhibit a weak ground potential. have. In this case, the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a ground electrode (not shown) between the substrate 300 or the display module 200 and the insulating layer 470. . According to an embodiment, another insulating layer (not shown) may be further included between the ground electrode and the substrate 300 or the display module 200. In this case, the ground electrode (not shown) may prevent the size of the capacitance generated between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460, which are pressure electrodes, from becoming too large.

4E illustrates a case in which an electrode sheet 440 including pressure electrodes 450 and 460 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is formed on the bottom surface of the display module 200. In this case, the substrate 300 may have a ground potential. Accordingly, as the touch surface of the cover layer 100 is touched, the distance d between the substrate 300 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 decreases, and consequently, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460. May cause a change in mutual capacitance or magnetic capacitance.

7A-7E illustrate a pattern of pressure electrodes included in a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 7A to 7C illustrate patterns of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 included in the pressure sensor 440. A pressure sensor 440 having a pattern of pressure electrodes illustrated in FIGS. 7A through 7C may be formed on an upper surface of the substrate 300 or on a lower surface of the display module 200. The capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 includes an electrode layer and a reference potential layer (the display module 200 or the substrate 300) including the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460. May vary depending on the distance between them.

When the magnitude of the touch pressure is detected as the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 changes, the first electrode 450 and the first electrode 450 are generated to generate a capacitance range necessary for increasing the detection accuracy. It is necessary to form the pattern of the second electrode 460. As the area where the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 face each other or the length thereof is large, the generated capacitance may be increased. Therefore, the size, length and shape of the facing area between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be adjusted according to the required capacitance range. 7B and 7C, when the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are formed on the same layer, the lengths of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 facing each other are relatively long. The case where the pressure electrode is formed is illustrated.

As described above, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are formed on the same layer, and each of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure may be composed of a plurality of electrodes of the rhombic shape. Here, the plurality of first electrodes 450 are connected to each other in the first axis direction, and the plurality of second electrodes 460 are connected to each other in the second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis direction. At least one of the 450 and the second electrode 460 may have a plurality of diamond-shaped electrodes connected to each other through a bridge such that the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are insulated from each other. In this case, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 illustrated in FIG. 9A may be configured as electrodes of the type illustrated in FIG. 15B.

The first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be implemented in different layers to form an electrode layer according to the embodiment. 9B illustrates a cross section when the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are implemented in different layers. As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the first electrode 450 is formed on the first insulating layer 470, and the second electrode 460 is formed on the first electrode 450. May be formed on layer 471. In some embodiments, the second electrode 460 may be covered with a third insulating layer 472. That is, the electrode sheet 440 may include the first insulating layer 470 to the third insulating layer 472, the first electrode 450, and the second electrode 460. In this case, since the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are positioned on different layers, they may be implemented to overlap each other. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 15C, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be formed similar to the pattern of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX arranged in the structure of MXN. . At this time, M and N may be one or more natural numbers. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15A, a rhombic first electrode 450 and a second electrode 460 may be located on different layers.

In the above, it is exemplified that the touch pressure is detected from a change in mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460. However, the electrode sheet 440 may be configured to include only one pressure electrode of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460, and in this case, one pressure electrode and the ground layer (the display module 200). , The magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected by detecting a change in capacitance, that is, a self capacitance between the substrate 300 or the reference potential layer disposed inside the display module 200. In this case, a driving signal may be applied to the one pressure electrode, and a change in magnetic capacitance between the pressure electrode and the ground layer may be detected from the pressure electrode.

For example, in FIG. 4C, the pressure electrode included in the electrode sheet 440 may include only the first electrode 450, which is caused by a change in distance between the display module 200 and the first electrode 450. The magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected from the change in the magnetic capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the display module 200. Since the distance d decreases as the touch pressure increases, the capacitance between the display module 200 and the first electrode 450 may increase as the touch pressure increases. The same may be applied to the embodiment related to FIG. 4E. In this case, the pressure electrode does not need to have a comb-tooth shape or trident shape, which is necessary to increase the mutual capacitance variation detection accuracy, and may have a plate (eg, square plate) shape as illustrated in FIG. 7D.

9C illustrates a cross section when the electrode sheet 440 includes only the first electrode 450. As illustrated in FIG. 9C, the electrode sheet 440 including the first electrode 450 may be disposed on the substrate 300 or the display module 200.

4F illustrates the case where the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed in the spacer layer 420 on the upper surface of the substrate 300 and the lower surface of the display module 200. The electrode sheet may include a first electrode sheet 440-1 including the first electrode 450 and a second electrode sheet 440-2 including the second electrode 460. In this case, one of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be formed on the substrate 300, and the other may be formed on the lower surface of the display module 200. In FIG. 4F, the first electrode 450 is formed on the substrate 300 and the second electrode 460 is formed on the lower surface of the display module 200.

When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance d between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be reduced. In this case, as the distance d decreases, the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may increase. Accordingly, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by acquiring an increase in mutual capacitance from the sensing signal acquired through the receiving electrode. In this case, the patterns of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may have shapes as illustrated in FIG. 7D. That is, in FIG. 4F, since the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are formed on different layers, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 do not have to have a comb shape or a trident shape. It may have a plate shape (eg, square plate shape).

FIG. 9D illustrates a second electrode sheet 440-attached with a first electrode sheet 440-1 including the first electrode 450 on the substrate 300 and including a second electrode 460. An example in which 2) is attached to the display module 200 is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 9D, the first electrode sheet 440-1 including the first electrode 450 may be disposed on the substrate 300. In addition, the second electrode sheet 440-2 including the second electrode 460 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the display module 200.

As described in connection with FIG. 9A, when the substrate 300 or the display module 200 to which the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are attached does not exhibit a ground potential or exhibits a weak ground potential, FIG. In FIGS. 9A to 9D, the electrode sheet 440 may include a ground electrode between the substrate 300 or the display module 200 and the first insulating layers 470, 470-1, and 470-2. ) May be further included. In this case, the electrode sheet 440 may further include an additional insulating layer (not shown) between the ground electrode (not shown) and the substrate 300 or the display module 200.

5A to 5I illustrate a second example in which an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a touch input device. The second example of the present invention is similar to the first example described with reference to Figs. 4A to 4F, and the following description will focus on the differences.

5A is a cross-sectional view of the touch input device in which the electrode sheet 440 is disposed according to the second example.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an air gap and / or existing inside or outside the display module 200 without fabricating a separate spacer layer and / or a reference potential layer. The touch pressure may be detected using the potential layer, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5B to 5I.

5B is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the display module 200 that may be included in the touch input device 1000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 5B illustrates the LCD module as the display module 200. As shown in FIG. 5B, the display module 200, which is an LCD module, may include a display panel 200A, which is an LCD panel, and a backlight unit 200B. The LCD panel itself does not emit light, but performs a function of blocking or transmitting light. Accordingly, a light source is positioned below the LCD panel to shine light on the LCD panel to express information having various colors as well as light and dark on the screen. Since the LCD panel does not emit light as a passive element, a light source having a uniform luminance distribution on the back side is required. The structure and function of the LCD panel and the backlight unit are well known techniques and will be briefly described below.

The backlight unit 200B for the LCD panel may include several optical parts. In FIG. 5B, the backlight unit 200B may include a light diffusion and light enhancement sheet 231, a light guide plate 232, and a reflection plate 240. In this case, the backlight unit 200B may include a light source (not shown) disposed on the rear and / or side surfaces of the light guide plate 232 in the form of a linear light source or a point light source. . According to an embodiment, the light guide plate 232 may further include a support 233 at the edge of the light diffusion and light enhancement sheet 231.

The light guide plate 232 may serve to convert light from a light source (not shown), which is generally in the form of a linear light source or a point light source, into a surface light source and direct the light to a LCD panel.

Some of the light emitted from the light guide plate 232 may be emitted to the opposite side of the LCD panel to be lost. The reflector 240 may be formed of a material having a high reflectance and positioned under the light guide plate 232 so that the lost light may be reincident to the light guide plate 232.

The light diffusion and light enhancement sheet 231 may include a diffuser sheet and / or a prism sheet. The diffusion sheet serves to diffuse light incident from the light guide plate 232. For example, since light scattered by the pattern of the light guide plate 232 directly enters the eye, the pattern of the light guide plate 232 may be reflected as it is. Even this pattern can be clearly detected even after mounting the LCD panel, the diffusion sheet can serve to cancel the pattern of the light guide plate 232.

After passing through the diffusion sheet, the brightness of light drops sharply. Thus, a prism sheet can be included to refocus light to improve light brightness.

The backlight unit 200B may include a configuration different from the above-described configuration according to changes, developments, and / or embodiments of the technology, and may further include additional configurations in addition to the above-described configuration. In addition, the backlight unit 200B according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, in order to protect the optical structure of the backlight unit 200B from external impact or contamination caused by the inflow of foreign objects, the protection sheet (protection sheet) on the top of the prism sheet It may contain more. In addition, the backlight unit 200B may further include a lamp cover according to the embodiment in order to minimize light loss from the light source. In addition, the backlight unit 200B allows the light guide plate 232, the light diffusion and light enhancement sheet 231, and the lamp (not shown), which are the main components of the backlight unit 200B, to be accurately matched to the allowable dimensions. It may further include a frame (frame) to maintain the. In addition, each of the foregoing configurations may consist of two or more separate parts. For example, the prism sheet may be composed of two prism sheets.

In this case, the first air gap 220-2 may be present between the light guide plate 232 and the reflective plate 240. Accordingly, the lost light from the light guide plate 232 to the reflector 240 may be reincident to the light guide plate 232 through the reflector 240. In this case, the display module frame 221-2 may be included at an edge between the light guide plate 232 and the reflecting plate 240 to maintain the first air gap 220-2.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment, the backlight unit 200B may be positioned with the LCD panel and the second air gap 220-1 interposed therebetween. This is to prevent the shock from the LCD panel from being transmitted to the backlight unit 200B. In this case, the display module frame 221-1 may be included at an edge between the backlight unit 200B and the LCD panel to maintain the second air gap 220-1.

In this case, the display module frames 221-1 and 221-2 may be made of a material having no elasticity. In the embodiment of the present invention, when the pressure is applied to the display module 200, the display module 200 may be bent, even if the display module frame (221-1, 221-2) does not have a deformation of the shape according to the pressure The magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected as the distance between the LCD panel and the light diffusion and light enhancement sheet 231 or the distance between the light guide plate 232 and the reflection plate 240 is changed.

As described above, the display module 200 may include an air gap such as the first air gap 220-2 and / or the second air gap 220-1. Alternatively, an air gap may be included between the plurality of layers of the light diffusion and light enhancement sheet 231. Although the LCD module has been described above, other display modules may also include an air gap in the structure.

In addition, the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a cover (not shown) under the display module 200. The cover may be made of metal as a member to protect the reflector 240 from contamination due to external impact or foreign material inflow. In this case, the substrate 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a cover, and a separate cover (not shown) may be disposed between the substrate 300 and the display module 200.

Therefore, the touch input device 1000 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention may use an air gap already present in or outside the display module 200 without fabricating a separate spacer layer for pressure detection. The air gap used as the spacer layer may be any air gap included in the display module 200 as well as the first air gap 220-2 and / or the second air gap 220-1 described with reference to FIG. 5B. Can be. Alternatively, the air gap may be included in the outside of the display module 200. As such, the electrode sheet 440 capable of detecting pressure may be inserted into the touch input device 1000 to reduce cost and / or simplify the process. 5C is a perspective view of a touch input device according to a second example of the present invention. In FIG. 5C, unlike the first example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the frame 330 for holding the spacer layer 420 may not be included.

5D illustrates a cross-sectional view of the touch input device according to the second example. As shown in FIG. 5D, an electrode sheet 440 including pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be formed on the substrate 300 as between the display module 200 and the substrate 300. 5D to 5I, the thickness of the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is exaggerated for convenience, but the thicknesses may be very small since the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be implemented in a sheet form. . Similarly, although the distance between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 is also exaggerated and widely shown, the distance between the two may also be implemented to have a very small gap. 5D and 5E, the electrode sheets 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed on the substrate 300 so as to be spaced apart from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display module 200. Although shown, this is for illustrative purposes only and may be implemented so as not to be spaced between them.

5D, the display module 200 includes the spacer layer 220, the display module frame 221, and the reference potential layer 270.

The spacer layer 220 may be the first air gap 220-2 and / or the second air gap 220-1 included in the manufacturing of the display module 200, as described with reference to FIG. 5B. Can be. When the display module 200 includes one air gap, the corresponding air gap may perform the function of the spacer layer 220. When the display module 200 includes the plurality of air gaps, the plurality of air gaps may be provided. The air gap may integrally perform the function of the spacer layer 220. 5D, 5E, 5H and 5I are shown functionally including one spacer layer 220.

The touch input device 1000 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include the reference potential layer 270 above the spacer layer 220 as the inside of the display module 200A in FIGS. 2A to 2C. The reference potential layer 270 may also be a ground potential layer included in itself in manufacturing the display module 200. For example, an electrode (not shown) for shielding noise may be included between the first polarization layer 271 and the first substrate layer 261 in the display panel 200A illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2B. . The electrode for shielding may be composed of ITO and may serve as a ground.

The reference potential layer 270 may be located anywhere within the display module 200 such that the spacer layer 220 is positioned between the reference potential layer 270 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. An electrode having any potential other than the illustrated electrode for shielding may be used as the reference potential layer 270. For example, the reference potential layer 270 may be a common electrode potential Vcom layer of the display module 200.

In particular, as an effort to reduce the thickness of the device including the touch input device 1000, the display module 200 may not be wrapped by a separate cover or frame. In this case, the lower surface of the display module 200 facing the substrate 300 may be a reflector 240 and / or an insulator. In this case, the lower surface of the display module 200 may not have a ground potential. As such, even when the lower surface of the display module 200 cannot function as the reference potential layer, when the touch pressure device 1000 according to the second example is used, any potential layer positioned inside the display module 200 may be referred to as the reference potential layer. It can be used as layer 270 to detect the pressure.

FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view when pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 illustrated in FIG. 5D. When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be bent or pressed. In this case, the distance d between the reference potential layer 270 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be reduced to d ′ by the spacer layer 220 disposed in the display module 200. In this case, since the fringe capacitance is absorbed into the reference potential layer 270 as the distance d decreases, the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may decrease. Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by obtaining a reduction amount of mutual capacitance from the sensing signal obtained through the receiving electrode.

In this case, the display module frame 221 may be made of a material having no elasticity. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the pressure is applied to the display module 200, the display module 200 may be bent, so that the reference potential layer 270 may be curved even if the display module frame 221 has no deformation of the shape according to the pressure. As the distance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is changed, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the display module 200 may be bent or pressed in response to a touch applying a pressure. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5E, the bending or pressing of the layer (eg, the reflecting plate) under the spacer layer 220 may be absent or reduced due to the spacer layer 220. In FIG. 5E, the bottom or bottom of the display module 200 is illustrated as having no bending or pressing at all. However, this is only an example, and the bottom or bottom of the display module 200 may be bent or pressed, but the degree may be reduced through the spacer layer 220. Can be mitigated.

The structure and attachment method of the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrode according to the second example are the same as those described with reference to the first example, and thus will be omitted below.

5F is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device including a pressure electrode according to a modification of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5D. 5F illustrates a case in which the spacer layer 420 is positioned between the display module 200 and the substrate 300. When manufacturing the touch input device 1000 including the display module 200, the air gap 420 may occur because the display module 200 is not completely attached between the substrate 300 and the substrate 300. Here, by using the air gap 420 as the spacer layer for the touch pressure detection, it is possible to reduce the time / cost of manufacturing a separate spacer layer for the touch pressure detection. 5F and 5G, the spacer layer 220, which is an air gap, is not shown inside the display module 200. However, in FIGS. 5F and 5G, the spacer layer 220 is additionally included in the display module 200. Cases may also be included.

FIG. 5G is a cross-sectional view when pressure is applied to the touch input device shown in FIG. 5F. As shown in FIG. 5D, the display module 200 may be bent or pressed when the touch input device 1000 is touched. In this case, the distance d between the reference potential layer 270 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is d 'by the spacer layer 420 positioned between the reference potential layer 270 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. Can be reduced. Accordingly, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by obtaining the amount of reduction in mutual capacitance from the sensing signal obtained through the receiving electrode.

At this time, although not shown in Figure 5g, a frame for maintaining the distance between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 may be formed on the edge of the display module 200 or the substrate 300. At this time, the frame may be made of a material having no elasticity. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the pressure is applied to the display module 200, the display module 200 may be bent, so that the reference potential layer 270 and the pressure electrode 450 are not deformed according to the pressure of the frame. , 460, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected as the distance between them is changed.

5H illustrates that an electrode sheet 440 including pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is disposed on a bottom surface of the display module 200. As the touch surface is touched, the distance d between the reference potential layer 270 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 decreases, resulting in mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460. May cause a change. In FIG. 5H, to illustrate that the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are attached on the lower surface of the display module 200, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 are spaced apart from each other. It is for the purpose of not being spaced apart between the two. 5F and 5G, the display module 200 and the substrate 300 may be spaced apart from each other by the spacer layer 420.

As in the case of the first example, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 in the second example described with reference to Figs. 5D to 5H may also have a pattern as shown in Figs. 7A to 7C, and will be described in detail below. Are omitted because they are redundant.

5I illustrates that the first electrode sheet 440-1 and the second electrode sheet 440-2 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are respectively an upper surface of the substrate 300 and a lower surface of the display module 200. The case where it is arrange | positioned on is illustrated. In FIG. 5I, the first electrode 450 is formed on the upper surface of the substrate 300 and the second electrode 460 is formed on the lower surface of the display module 200. In FIG. 5I, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are spaced apart from each other. However, only the first electrode 450 is formed on the substrate 300 and the second electrode 460 is formed of the display module. It is intended to explain that formed in the 200, the space between the two spaced apart by the air gap, the insulating material is located between the two, or the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 do not overlap each other, for example It may be formed so as to be out in the same manner as it is formed in the same layer.

When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 are bent or pressed to form a reference with the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460. The distance d between the dislocation layers 270 may be reduced. In this case, as the distance d decreases, mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may decrease. Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by obtaining a reduction amount of mutual capacitance from the sensing signal obtained through the receiving electrode. In this case, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may have a pattern as shown in FIG. 7E. As shown in FIG. 7E, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be disposed to be orthogonal to each other, thereby improving sensitivity of sensing a change in capacitance.

6A-6H illustrate a touch input device according to a third example of the present invention. The third example is similar to the first example and will be described below mainly with the difference.

6A is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a third example of the present invention. In the third example, the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 included in the pressure detection module 400 may be inserted into the touch input device 1000. In this case, although the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is disposed to be spaced apart from the substrate 300 and the display module 200 in FIG. 6A, the electrode sheet including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 ( The 440 may be formed in contact with any one of the substrate 300 and the display module 200.

The electrode sheet 440 is spaced apart from the substrate 300 or the display module 200 and the spacer layer 420 so as to detect the touch pressure in the touch input device 1000 according to the third example of the present invention. The substrate 300 may be attached to the substrate 300 or the display module 200.

6B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch input device in which the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the touch input device according to the first method. In FIG. 6B, the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the substrate 300 or the display module 200.

As shown in FIG. 6C, a frame 430 having a predetermined thickness may be formed along the edge of the electrode sheet 440 to maintain the spacer layer 420. In FIG. 6C, the frame 430 is formed on all the edges of the electrode sheet 440 (for example, four sides of a quadrilateral), but the frame 430 is at least a part of the edge of the electrode sheet 440 (eg, four). Only on three sides of a square). In this case, as shown in FIG. 6C, the frame 430 may not be formed in an area including the electrode patterns 450 and 460. Accordingly, when the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the substrate 300 or the display module 200 through the frame 430, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are predetermined distances from the substrate 300 or the display module 200. It may be spaced apart. According to an embodiment, the frame 430 may be formed on an upper surface of the substrate 300 or a lower surface of the display module 200. In addition, the frame 430 may be a double-sided adhesive tape. In FIG. 6C, the electrode sheet 440 includes only one pressure electrode among the pressure electrodes 450 and 460.

6D is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the touch input device in which the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the touch input device according to the second method. In FIG. 6D, the electrode sheet 440 may be positioned on the substrate 300 or the display module 200, and then the electrode sheet 440 may be fixed to the substrate 300 or the display module 200 with an adhesive tape 431. have. To this end, the adhesive tape 431 may contact at least a portion of the electrode sheet 440 and at least a portion of the substrate 300 or the display module 200. In FIG. 6D, the adhesive tape 431 is shown to extend from the top of the electrode sheet 440 to the exposed surface of the substrate 300 or the display module 200. In this case, the adhesive tape 431 may have an adhesive force only on the side of the surface in contact with the electrode sheet 440. Thus, the upper surface of the adhesive tape 431 in Figure 6d may not have the adhesive force.

As shown in FIG. 6D, even when the electrode sheet 440 is fixed to the substrate 300 or the display module 200 through the adhesive tape 431, the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300 or the display module 200 are fixed. ) May have a predetermined space, that is, the air gap 420. The electrode sheet 440 is not directly attached between the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300 or the display module 200 by the adhesive, and the electrode sheet 440 includes pressure electrodes 450 and 460 having patterns. The surface of) may not be flat. The air gap 420 in FIG. 6D may also function as the spacer layer 420 for detecting touch pressure.

Hereinafter, a third example of the present invention will be described with an example in which the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the substrate 300 or the display module 200 according to the first method as shown in FIG. 6B, but the same description will be provided. The method may also be applied to the case where the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the substrate 300 or the display module 200 by an arbitrary method such as the second method.

6E is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device including a pressure electrode pattern according to a third example of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6E, the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is spaced apart from the substrate 300 and the spacer layer 420 in the region where the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed. And may be attached to 300. In FIG. 6E, the display module 200 is shown to be in contact with the electrode sheet 440, but this is only an example and the display module 200 may be spaced apart from the electrode sheet 440.

6F is a cross-sectional view when pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 shown in FIG. 6E. The substrate 300 may have a ground potential for noise shielding. When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the electrode sheet 440 may be pressed to reduce the distance d between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 included in the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300 to d ′. In this case, since the fringing capacitance is absorbed into the substrate 300 as the distance d decreases, the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may decrease. Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by obtaining a reduction amount of mutual capacitance from the sensing signal obtained through the receiving electrode.

As shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F, the touch input device 1000 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention may change according to a change in distance between the substrate 300 to which the electrode sheet 440 is attached and the electrode sheet 440. Touch pressure can be detected. In this case, since the distance d between the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300 is very small, the touch pressure may be accurately detected even with a minute change in the distance d according to the touch pressure.

6G illustrates that the pressure electrodes 450, 460 are attached to the bottom surface of the display module 200. FIG. 6H is a cross-sectional view when pressure is applied to the touch input device shown in FIG. 6G. In this case, the display module 300 may have a ground potential. Therefore, as the touch surface of the touch sensor panel 100 is touched, the distance d between the display module 200 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is reduced, and as a result, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode are reduced. May cause a change in mutual capacitance between 460.

As shown in FIGS. 6G and 6H, the touch input device 1000 according to the third embodiment of the present invention may change the distance between the display module 200 to which the electrode sheet 440 is attached and the electrode sheet 440. It can be seen that the touch pressure can be detected accordingly.

For example, the distance between the display module 200 and the electrode sheet 440 may be smaller than the distance between the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300. Further, for example, the distance between the electrode sheet 440 and the lower surface of the display module 200 which is the ground potential may include the Vcom potential layer and / or any ground potential layer positioned in the electrode sheet 440 and the display module 200. It may be less than the distance of. For example, in the display panel 200 illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C, an electrode (not shown) for shielding noise may be included between the first polarization layer 271 and the first glass layer 261. The electrode for shielding may be composed of ITO and may serve as a ground potential layer.

The first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 included in FIGS. 6E through 6H may have the patterns illustrated in FIGS. 7A through 7C, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

6A to 6H, although the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 included in the electrode sheet 440 are illustrated as being formed on the same layer, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are illustrated. According to the embodiment may be implemented in different layers. As illustrated in FIG. 9B, in the electrode sheet 440, the first electrode 450 is formed on the first insulating layer 470, and the second electrode 460 is formed on the first electrode 450. The second electrode 460 may be formed on the second insulating layer 471 and covered with the third insulating layer 472.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be configured to include only one pressure electrode of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460, in which case one pressure electrode and a ground layer are used. (The magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected by detecting a change in the capacitance, that is, the self capacitance between the display module 200 or the substrate 300). In this case, the pressure electrode may have a plate (eg, rectangular plate) shape as illustrated in FIG. 7D. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, in the electrode sheet 440, the first electrode 450 may be formed on the first insulating layer 470 and covered with the second insulating layer 471.

8A and 8B show the relationship between the magnitude of touch pressure and the saturation area in the touch input device to which the electrode sheet 440 according to the present invention is applied. 8A and 8B, the case where the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the substrate 300 is illustrated, but the following description may also be applied to the case where the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the display module 200.

When the magnitude of the touch pressure is large enough, the distance between the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300 at a predetermined position may reach a state in which the touch pressure is no longer close. This state is referred to below as saturation. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, when the touch input device 1000 is pressed by the force f, the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300 may come into contact with each other so that the distance may not be closer. In this case, an area where the electrode sheet 440 and the substrate 300 contact each other may be represented by a.

However, even in this case, when the size of the touch pressure becomes larger, the area in the saturation state where the distance between the substrate 300 and the electrode sheet 440 is no longer close may increase. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the touch input device 1000 is pressed with a force F greater than f, an area in which the electrode sheet 440 contacts the substrate 300 may increase. 8B, an area where the electrode sheet 440 contacts the substrate 300 may be represented by A. FIG. As the area increases, the mutual capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may decrease. It will be described below to calculate the size of the touch pressure according to the change in capacitance according to the change in distance, which may include calculating the size of the touch pressure in accordance with the change of the saturation area in the saturation state.

8A and 8B will be described with reference to the third example, but the description with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B is equally applicable to the first to second examples and the fourth embodiment described below. More specifically, the magnitude of the touch pressure is changed according to the change in the saturation area in the saturation state where the distance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the ground layer or the reference potential layers 200, 300 and 270 can no longer be close. Can be calculated.

10A and 10B illustrate a touch input device according to a fourth example of the present invention. The touch input device 1000 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention may detect the touch pressure even when a pressure is applied to the lower surface as well as the upper surface of the touch input device by inserting the electrode sheet 440. In the present specification, an upper surface of the touch input device 1000 as a touch surface may be referred to as an upper surface of the display module 200, which may not only display the upper surface of the display module 200 but also the display module 200 at the upper side of the drawing. It may include a covering surface. In addition, the lower surface of the touch input device 1000 as the touch surface herein may be referred to as the lower surface of the substrate 300, which covers the substrate 300 at the lower side of the drawing as well as the lower surface of the substrate 300. It can include a surface that is present.

In FIG. 10A, when the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is positioned on the lower surface of the display module 200 in the first example, the substrate is applied by applying pressure to the lower surface of the substrate 300. The case where the distance between the substrate 300 and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is changed by pressing or bending 300 is illustrated. At this time, the capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 or the first electrode 450 or the second electrode 460 and the substrate as the distance between the substrate 300 as the reference potential layer changes. Since the capacitance between 300 changes, the touch pressure can be detected.

In FIG. 10B, when the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the substrate 300 in the third example, pressure is applied to the lower surface of the substrate 300 so that the substrate 300 is pressed or bent. The case where the distance between the electrode sheets 440 changes is illustrated. As in the case of FIG. 10A, the capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 or the first electrode 450 or the second electrode as the distance from the substrate 300 as the reference potential layer changes. Since the capacitance between the 460 and the substrate 300 changes, the touch pressure may be detected.

Although FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate some examples of the first and third examples, the fourth example is the first to third examples, and the substrate 300 is applied by applying pressure to the lower surface of the substrate 300. ), The capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460, or the capacitance between the first electrode 450 and the reference potential layers 200, 300, 270 changes due to bending or pressing. In all cases. For example, in the structure as shown in FIG. 4C, the distance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display module 200 may be changed by bending or pressing the substrate 300, and thus pressure detection may be possible. have.

The pressure sensor according to the present invention may be formed directly on the display panel 200A. 14A-14C are cross-sectional views illustrating embodiments of pressure sensors formed directly on various display panels 200A.

First, Fig. 14A shows a pressure sensor formed in the display panel 200A using the LCD panel. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14A, a pressure sensor including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 262. In this case, although the second polarization layer 272 of FIG. 2A is omitted in FIG. 14A, the pressure sensor and the back light unit 275 or between the pressure sensor and the second substrate layer 262 of FIG. The second polarization layer 272 may be disposed.

When pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000, when detecting the touch pressure based on the mutual capacitance change amount, a driving signal is applied to the driving electrode 450, and the reference potential layer spaced apart from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. An electrical signal is received from the receiving electrode 460 including information on the capacitance that changes according to a change in distance from the overpressure electrodes 450 and 460.

On the other hand, in the case of detecting the touch pressure based on the change amount of the self capacitance, a driving signal is applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460, and the distance between the reference potential layer and the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 spaced apart from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is changed. An electrical signal including information on the capacitance that changes according to the received from the pressure electrodes (450,460). Here, the reference potential layer may be a substrate 300 or a cover disposed between the display panel 200A and the substrate 300 and performing a function of protecting the display panel 200A.

Next, Fig. 14B shows a pressure sensor formed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A using an OLED panel (especially an AM-OLED panel). In detail, a pressure sensor including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 283. At this time, the method of detecting pressure is the same as the method described with reference to Fig. 14A.

Next, Fig. 14C shows a pressure sensor formed in the display panel 200A using the OLED panel. In detail, a pressure sensor including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be formed on the upper surface of the second substrate layer 283. At this time, the method of detecting pressure is the same as the method described with reference to Fig. 14A.

In addition, in FIG. 14C, the display panel 200A using the OLED panel has been described as an example, but pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed on the upper surface of the second substrate layer 272 of the display panel 200A using the LCD panel. It is possible.

In addition, in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the pressure sensors including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed on the upper or lower surfaces of the second substrate layers 272 and 283, but the pressure sensors are formed on the upper surfaces of the first substrate layers 261 and 281. Alternatively, it may be formed on the lower surface.

In addition, although FIGS. 14A to 14C have described that the pressure sensors including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are directly formed on the display panel 200A, the pressure sensors are directly formed on the substrate 300, and the potential layer is formed on the display panel. It may be 200A or a cover disposed between the display panel 200A and the substrate 300 to perform a function of protecting the display panel 200A.

14A to 14C, the reference potential layer is disposed below the pressure sensor, but the reference potential layer may be disposed inside the display panel 200A. In detail, the reference potential layer may be disposed on the top or bottom surface of the first substrate layers 261 and 281 of the display panel 200A, or the top or bottom surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention, a pressure sensor for detecting an amount of change in capacitance is a first electrode 450 formed directly on the display panel 200A and a second electrode 460 configured in the form of an electrode sheet. Can be configured. Specifically, the first electrode 450 is formed directly on the display panel 200A as described with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14C, and the second electrode 460 is in the form of an electrode sheet as described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 5. It may be configured and attached to the touch input device 1000.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 10, the pressure sensor in the form of an electrode sheet 440 according to the present invention is attached to the touch input device, or as shown in FIG. 14, the pressure sensor is directly formed on the touch input device. In the state, the magnitude of the touch pressure is detected from the change amount of the capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. At this time, since the capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 changes not only in the distance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the reference potential layer, but also in response to changes in the surrounding environment including display noise, The accuracy is poor. In particular, when the pressure sensor is directly formed on the touch input device as shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the distance between the driving unit (eg, the pixel electrode or the driving electrode) of the display panel 200A and the pressure sensor are close to each other. As the display module is driven, 'parasitic capacitance' between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the driving unit of the display panel 200A may be included in the capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. have. Therefore, the parasitic capacitance must be significantly reduced or removed from the change in capacitance detected, so that the magnitude of the touch pressure based on the change in capacitance due to the change in distance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the reference potential layer can be accurately detected. have.

To this end, the reset process is repeatedly executed at every scan or at predetermined intervals when the driving signal Tx is applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460, and the detection signal Rx is received from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. It can be done. The reset process resets the reference capacitance at the time of reset. The reset process is mounted on the touch sensing IC in the form of a software and is driven. Since the reset process is driven at a time different from the driving signal application time interval and the detection signal reception time interval for the touch pressure detection, the touch pressure detection efficiency is increased. This can fall. In addition, when the input touch is maintained without being released, since the reset process is not driven during the sustained period, there is a disadvantage in that the change in capacitance due to display noise during the sustained period cannot be excluded. .

In addition, even when the reference capacitance is reset at a reset time point through the above-described reset process, since the pressure is detected within a time interval during which the display module is driven, the change in capacitance due to display noise occurring in real time is excluded. It is practically impossible. Accordingly, there is a need for a method capable of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the driving unit of the display module among changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460.

3B illustrates a method of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display module 200 among the changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a first example.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a display module 200, pressure electrodes 450 and 460, and a substrate 300.

The display module 200 may include a display panel, and the display panel may be the display panel 200A illustrated in FIG. 2A or 2B.

The display panel included in the display module 200 includes an electrode used to drive the display panel. Here, the electrode used to drive the display panel may vary depending on the type of display panel. For example, when the display panel is the LCD panel 200A shown in FIG. 2A, the electrodes used to drive the display panel include a data line, a gate line, a TFT, and a common electrode Vcom: at least one of a common electrode and a pixel electrode, and when the display panel is the OLED panel 200A shown in FIG. 2B, a data line, a gate line, It may include at least one of the first power line (ELVDD) and the second power line (ELVSS).

The display module 200 may include the touch sensor 10 shown in FIG. 1A or 1B.

The pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are disposed between the display module 200 and the substrate 300. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed on the display panel of the display module 200. do. Here, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be directly formed on the display panel of the display module 200. Here, the direct formation may mean that the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are patterned on the lower surface of the display module 200.

The pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be configured in plural, some of the plurality of pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are driving electrodes to which a driving signal Tx is applied, and others of which are output the sensing signals Rx. It may be a sensing electrode. In addition, each of the plurality of pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may receive the driving signal Tx and output the sensing signal Rx.

The substrate 300 is disposed below the display module 200. The substrate 300 may be a conductive material and may be a reference potential layer of the pressure electrodes 450 and 460.

When the display module 200 is bent by the pressure applied to the surface of the touch input device, the distance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 as the reference potential layer is changed, and the pressure electrode is changed according to the changed distance. The capacitance between 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 is changed, and the change in capacitance can be detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. Here, the parasitic capacitance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the electrode used to drive the display panel included in the display module 200 may be included in the change amount of the capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. have. The parasitic capacitance is generated when one or more electrodes among the various electrodes in which the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are used to drive the display panel 200 serve as a reference potential layer of the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. As the distance between any one or more of the electrodes 450 and 460 and the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200 approaches, the parasitic capacitance increases.

In order to significantly reduce or eliminate the parasitic capacitance, when the driving signal Tx is applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460, the pressure electrode may be applied to any one or more of the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200. The driving signals Tx applied to the signals 450 and 460 are applied together. Here, the at least one electrode may be an electrode located closest to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 among the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200.

When the same driving signal Tx is simultaneously applied to any one of the electrodes used for driving the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display panel 200, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display panel 200 are applied. Since any one of the electrodes used for driving of the electrode has the same potential, no parasitic capacitance may be generated or may be significantly reduced, and the driving signal Tx may be pressed in the position of the substrate 300 as the reference potential layer. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is also improved because it comes from one of the electrodes 450 and 460 and the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200.

FIG. 3C illustrates a method of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display module 200 among variations in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. A cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a second example.

The touch input device shown in FIG. 3C has a pressure sensor 440 including pressure electrodes 450 and 460 as compared to the touch input device shown in FIG. 3B.

The pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be disposed in the pressure sensor 440, and for this purpose, the pressure sensor 440 may include an insulating layer surrounding the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. Here, the insulating layer may include a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer. One surface of the pressure sensor 400, that is, any one of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer is formed on the display module 200.

The distance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 in the touch input device shown in FIG. 3C and one of the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200 is determined by the pressure in the touch input device shown in FIG. 3B. Although the distance between the electrodes 450 and 460 and the electrode of any one of the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200 is greater, the touch input device shown in FIG. 3C also displays the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display. The parasitic capacitance between any one of the electrodes used to drive the panel 200 may be included in the capacitance change amount detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. Accordingly, the drive signal Tx applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460, which is the same method as the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3B, is used to drive the display panel 200 in the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3C. The generation of parasitic capacitance can be significantly reduced by using a method of simultaneously applying to any one of the electrodes.

FIG. 3D illustrates a method for significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 among the changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. A cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a third example.

The touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3D is different from the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3B in that pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed on the substrate 300 instead of the display module 200. Reference potential layers (not shown) of the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed inside or outside the display module 200.

In the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3D, the capacitance change amount detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may include parasitic capacitance between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300. Parasitic capacitance may occur because the substrate 300 has the same potential as the reference potential layer of the display module 200.

In order to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of parasitic capacitance, when the driving signal Tx is applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460, the driving signal Tx is also applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 to the substrate 300. Apply together. When the same driving signal Tx is simultaneously applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300, the parasitic capacitance is not generated at all because the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 have the same potential. In addition, since the driving signal Tx is emitted from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 from the standpoint of the substrate 300 which is the reference potential layer, the signal-to-noise ratio SNR may be improved.

FIG. 3E illustrates a method of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the substrate 300 among the changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. It is sectional drawing of the touch input device which concerns on a 4th example.

The touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3E differs from the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3C in that a pressure sensor 440 including pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is formed on the substrate 300. The reference potential layers (not shown) of the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed inside or outside the display module 200.

In the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3E, a method of simultaneously applying the driving signal Tx applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 to the substrate 300, which is the same method as the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3D, is used. Therefore, the generation of parasitic capacitance can be significantly reduced.

FIG. 3F illustrates a method of significantly reducing or eliminating parasitic capacitance generated between the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 and the display module 200 among the changes in capacitance detected from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device according to a fifth example.

In the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3F, in comparison with the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3B, at least one pressure electrode 450 is formed on the display panel 200, and the at least one pressure electrode 460 is a substrate. There is a difference in that it is formed at 300. For convenience of description, the pressure electrode 450 formed on the display panel 200 is referred to as a first pressure electrode, and the pressure electrode 460 formed on the substrate 300 is referred to as a second pressure electrode. Here, the first pressure electrode 450 may be directly formed on the display panel 200, and the second pressure electrode 460 may be directly formed on the substrate 300.

The first pressure electrode 450 of the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3F may be a driving electrode to which a driving signal is applied, and the second pressure electrode 460 may be a sensing electrode to which a sensing signal is output. The opposite is of course also possible. Accordingly, a driving signal may be applied to one of the first pressure electrode 450 and the second pressure electrode 460, and a sensing signal may be output to the other electrode.

When a driving signal is applied to any one of the first pressure electrode 450 and the second pressure electrode 460, the first pressure is generated by the pressure applied to the touch surface of the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3F. As the distance between the electrode 450 and the second pressure electrode 460 changes, the capacitance detected by the other electrode of the first pressure electrode 450 and the second pressure electrode 460 to which the driving signal is not applied is reduced. In this case, the magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface may be calculated based on the detection capacitance calculated from the mutual capacitance detected at the other electrode.

The display panel 200 includes electrodes used to drive the display panel as described with reference to FIG. 3B.

The driving signal Tx applied to any one of the first pressure electrode 450 and the second pressure electrode 460 is at least one of the electrodes and the substrate used for driving the display panel 200. At least one of the 300 is applied simultaneously. For example, as shown in FIG. 3F, when the driving signal Tx is applied to the first pressure electrode 450, the driving signal Tx is at least among the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200. It may be applied simultaneously to either electrode. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 3F, the driving signal Tx may be simultaneously applied to the substrate 300, and at least one electrode and the substrate 300 among the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200. Can be applied to all at the same time.

As such, the driving signal Tx applied to any one of the first pressure electrode 450 and the second pressure electrode 460 is at least one of the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200. When simultaneously applied to at least one of the electrode and the substrate 300, at least one of the pressure electrode to which the driving signal Tx is applied and the electrodes used to drive the display panel 200, or the driving signal Tx. ) Is applied to the pressure electrode and the substrate 300, or the pressure electrode to which the driving signal Tx is applied, any one electrode of the display panel 200 and the substrate 300 has the same potential, so that the parasitic capacitance There is also an advantage that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is improved because the driving signal (Tx) becomes stronger from the standpoint of the other electrode that does not occur at all or is significantly reduced, and the other electrode that outputs the sensing signal.

Meanwhile, in the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3F, the reference potential layer (not shown) may not be formed anywhere on the display panel 200 or the substrate 300, and the reference potential layer (not shown) is the display panel 200. ) Or on the substrate 300.

Although not illustrated in a separate drawing, the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3B may further include a pressure sensor 440 including pressure electrodes 450 and 460 of the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3E. . In detail, the pressure sensor 440 illustrated in FIG. 3E may be disposed on the substrate 300 illustrated in FIG. 3B.

In the touch input device according to this embodiment, for convenience of description, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 formed on the display panel 200 are referred to as first pressure electrodes, and the pressure sensor 440 formed on the substrate 300 may be referred to as a first pressure electrode. The pressure electrodes 450 and 460 will be referred to as second pressure electrodes. The driving signal Tx may be applied to the first pressure electrode, and the sensing signal Rx may be output to the second pressure electrode. According to the change in the distance between the first pressure electrode and the second pressure electrode, the magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface of the touch input device may be calculated based on the capacitance change amount from the sensing signal Rx output from the second pressure electrode. .

The second pressure electrode may be included in the pressure sensor 440 shown in FIG. 3E, which may include a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer disposed above and below the second pressure electrode, respectively. Can be. In addition, any one of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may be formed on the substrate 300.

The pressure sensor 440 including the second pressure electrode, the first insulating layer, and the second insulating layer may have a sheet shape, and the sheet type pressure sensor 440 may be attached to the substrate 300.

In the touch input device, at least any one of electrodes used to drive the display panel 200 may receive a driving signal Tx applied to the pressure electrodes 450 and 460, which is the same method as the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 3B. By using a method applied to one at the same time, the generation of parasitic capacitance can be significantly reduced.

Although not illustrated in a separate drawing, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 illustrated in FIG. 3D may be directly formed on the substrate 300 of the touch input apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3B, and the touch input apparatus illustrated in FIG. The pressure electrodes 450 and 460 illustrated in FIG. 3D may be directly formed on the substrate 300, or the pressure sensor 440 illustrated in FIG. 3E may be formed.

In order to detect pressure through the touch input device 1000 to which the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, it is necessary to detect a change in capacitance generated in the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. Therefore, a driving signal needs to be applied to the driving electrode of the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460, and a touch signal must be calculated from the change amount of capacitance by acquiring a detection signal from the receiving electrode. According to an embodiment, it is also possible to further include a pressure detection device in the form of a pressure sensing IC for the operation of pressure detection. The pressure detection module 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include such a pressure detection device as well as a pressure sensor for pressure detection.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 1, since the configuration similar to the driving unit 12, the sensing unit 11, and the control unit 13 is overlapped, the area and volume of the touch input device 1000 may increase. Can be.

According to an embodiment, the touch input device 1000 applies a driving signal for pressure detection to a pressure sensor using a touch detection device for operating the touch sensor panel 100, and receives a detection signal from a pressure sensor to touch the touch input device 1000. Pressure can also be detected. Hereinafter, it will be assumed that the first electrode 450 is a driving electrode and the second electrode 460 is a receiving electrode.

To this end, in the touch input device 1000 to which the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, the first electrode 450 receives a driving signal from the driving unit 12 and the second electrode 460 detects a detection signal. It can be delivered to the unit (11). The control unit 13 performs scanning of the pressure sensor simultaneously with the scanning of the touch sensor 10, or the control unit 13 time-division to perform scanning of the touch sensor 10 during the first time period. In a second time interval different from the one time interval, a control signal may be generated to perform the scanning of the pressure detection.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 should be electrically connected to the driving unit 12 and / or the sensing unit 11. In this case, the touch detection device for the touch sensor 10 is generally formed on the same plane as the touch sensor 10 or one end of the touch sensor 10 as the touch sensing IC 150. The pressure electrodes 450 and 460 included in the pressure sensor may be electrically connected to the touch detection device of the touch sensor 10 by any method.

11A and 11B illustrate a case in which a pressure sensor in the form of an electrode sheet 440 including pressure electrodes 450 and 460 is attached to a lower surface of the display module 200. 11A and 11B, the display module 200 shows a second PCB 210 in which a circuit for operating the display panel is mounted on a portion of a lower surface of the display module 200.

FIG. 11A illustrates that the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the lower surface of the display module 200 such that the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are connected to one end of the second PCB 210 of the display module 200. Illustrate the case. In this case, the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 may be connected to one end of the second PCB 210 by using a double-sided conductive tape. Specifically, since the thickness of the electrode sheet 440 and the distance between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 on which the electrode sheet 440 is disposed is very small, a double-sided conductive tape is used rather than using a separate connector. Connecting the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 to one end of the second PCB 210 is effective because the thickness can be reduced. A conductive pattern may be printed on the second PCB 210 to electrically connect the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 to a required configuration such as the touch sensing IC 150. Details thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12C. The attachment method of the electrode sheet 440 including the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 illustrated in FIG. 11A may be similarly applied to the substrate 300.

FIG. 11B illustrates a case in which the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 are integrally formed on the second PCB 210 of the display module 200 without being manufactured as a separate electrode sheet. For example, when the second PCB 210 of the display module 200 is manufactured, a predetermined area is allocated to the second PCB to correspond to the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 as well as a circuit for operating the display panel in advance. You can print up to patterns. The second PCB 210 may be printed with a conductive pattern that electrically connects the first electrode 450 and the second electrode 460 to a required configuration such as the touch sensing IC 150.

12A through 12C illustrate a method of connecting the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 or the electrode sheet 440 to the touch sensing IC 150. 12A to 12C, when the touch sensor panel 100 is included outside the display module 200, the touch detection device of the touch sensor panel 100 may include a first PCB 160 for the touch sensor panel 100. A case in which the integrated circuit is integrated in the touch sensing IC 150 mounted in FIG.

12A illustrates an example in which pressure electrodes 450 and 460 attached to the display module 200 are connected to the touch sensing IC 150 through the first connector 121. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, in the mobile communication device such as a smartphone, the touch sensing IC 150 is connected to the second PCB 210 for the display module 200 through the first connector 121. The second PCB 210 may be electrically connected to the main board through the second connector 224. Accordingly, the touch sensing IC 150 may exchange a signal with a CPU or an AP for operating the touch input device 1000 through the first connector 121 and the second connector 224.

12A illustrates that the electrode sheet 440 is attached to the display module 200 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11B, but may be applied to the case in which the electrode sheet 440 is attached in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11A. A conductive pattern may be printed on the second PCB 210 so that the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be electrically connected to the touch sensing IC 150 through the first connector 121.

In FIG. 12B, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 attached to the display module 200 are connected to the touch sensing IC 150 through the third connector 473. In FIG. 12B, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are connected to the main board for the operation of the touch input device 1000 through the third connector 473, and the second connector 224 and the first connector 121 are later connected. It may be connected to the touch sensing IC 150 through. At this time, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be printed on an additional PCB separated from the second PCB 210. Alternatively, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be attached to the touch input device 1000 in the form of an electrode sheet 440 as illustrated in FIGS. 3B to 3I to conduct conductive traces from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. The back may be extended to be connected to the motherboard through the connector 473.

In FIG. 12C, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are directly connected to the touch sensing IC 150 through the fourth connector 474. In FIG. 12C, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be connected to the first PCB 160 through the fourth connector 474. A conductive pattern may be printed on the first PCB 160 to electrically connect the fourth connector 474 to the touch sensing IC 150. Accordingly, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be connected to the touch sensing IC 150 through the fourth connector 474. At this time, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be printed on an additional PCB separated from the second PCB 210. The second PCB 210 and the additional PCB may be insulated so as not to short-circuit each other. Alternatively, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 may be attached to the touch input device 1000 in the form of an electrode sheet 440 as illustrated in FIGS. 3B to 3I to conduct conductive traces from the pressure electrodes 450 and 460. The back may be extended to be connected to the first PCB 160 through the fourth connector 474.

12B and 12C may be applied to the case in which the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are formed on the substrate 300 as well as the bottom surface of the display module 200.

12A to 12C, the touch sensing IC 150 has been described assuming a chip on film (COF) structure formed on the first PCB 160. However, this is merely an example and the present invention may be applied to a case of a chip on board (COB) structure in which the touch sensing IC 150 is mounted on a main board in the mounting space 310 of the touch input device 1000. From the description of Figures 12A-12C, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that the connection through the connectors of the pressure electrodes 450, 460 would be apparent for other embodiments.

In the above, the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 in which the first electrode 450 constitutes one channel as the driving electrode and the second electrode 460 constitutes one channel as the receiving electrode have been described. However, this is only an example, and according to the exemplary embodiment, the driving electrode and the receiving electrode may each constitute a plurality of channels, and thus, multiple pressure detection may be performed according to multi touch.

13A to 13D illustrate the case where the pressure electrode of the present invention constitutes a plurality of channels. In FIG. 13A, the first electrodes 450-1 and 450-2 and the second electrodes 460-1 and 460-2 each constitute two channels. In FIG. 13A, the first electrode 450-1 and the second electrode 460-1 constituting the first channel are included in the first electrode sheet 440-1 and the first electrode 450 constituting the second channel. -2) and the second electrode 460-2 are included in the second electrode sheet 440-2, but the first electrodes 450-1 and 450-2 and the second constituting two channels are included. The electrodes 460-1 and 460-2 may be configured to be included in one electrode sheet 440. In FIG. 13B, the first electrodes 450-1 and 450-2 constitute two channels, but the second electrode 460 constitutes one channel. In FIG. 13C, the first electrodes 450-1 to 450-5 and the second electrodes 460-1 to 460-5 each form five channels. In this case, the electrodes constituting the five channels may be configured to be included in one electrode sheet 440. In FIG. 13D, a case in which each of the first electrodes 451 to 459 constitutes nine channels and all of them are included in one electrode sheet 440 is illustrated.

As shown in FIGS. 13A to 13D and 15A to 15C, when configuring a plurality of channels, each of the first electrode 450 and / or the second electrode 460 is connected to the touch sensing IC 150. Electrically connected conductive patterns may be formed.

Here, an example of configuring a plurality of channels of the type shown in Fig. 13D will be described. In this case, since the plurality of conductive patterns 461 are to be connected to the first connector 121 having a limited width, the width of the conductive pattern 461 and the distance between the adjacent conductive patterns 461 should be small. Polyimide is preferable to polyethylene terephthalate in order to perform a fine process for forming the conductive pattern 461 having such a small width and spacing. In detail, the first insulating layer 470 or the second insulating layer 471 of the electrode sheet 440 on which the conductive pattern 461 is formed may be formed of polyimide. In addition, in order to connect the conductive pattern 461 to the first connector 121, a soldering process may be necessary. For the soldering process of more than 300 degrees Celsius, a heat resistant polyimide is preferable to a relatively thermally weak polyethylene terephthalate. . In this case, the first insulating layer 470 or the second insulating layer 471 of the portion where the conductive pattern 461 is not formed is formed of polyethylene terephthalate for cost reduction, and the portion where the conductive pattern 461 is formed. The first insulating layer 470 or the second insulating layer 471 may be formed of polyimide.

13A to 13D and 15A to 15C illustrate a case in which the pressure electrode constitutes a singular or plural channels, and the pressure electrode may be composed of the singular or plural channels in various ways. Although the case in which the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 are electrically connected to the touch sensing IC 150 is not illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 13C and 15A to 15C, the pressure electrodes (see FIGS. 12A to 12C and other methods) may be used. 450 and 460 may be connected to the touch sensing IC 150.

In the above description, the first connector 121 or the fourth connector 474 may be a double-sided conductive tape. Specifically, since the first connector 121 or the fourth connector 474 can be disposed between very small intervals, it is effective to use a double-sided conductive tape to reduce the thickness than to use a separate connector.

In addition, the above description has been made with reference to the embodiment, which is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be illustrated as above without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It will be appreciated that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment can be modified. And differences relating to such modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

[Description of the code]

1000: touch input device 10: touch sensor

12: drive unit 11: detection unit

13: control unit 200: display module

300: substrate 400: pressure detection module

420; Spacer layer 440: electrode sheet

450 and 460: pressure electrode 470: first insulating layer

471: second insulating layer 430: frame

480: reference pressure electrode

Claims (12)

A touch input device capable of detecting pressure of a touch on a touch surface, A display module including a display panel; A substrate disposed under the display module, the substrate being a reference potential layer; And At least one pressure electrode formed on the display panel; The display panel includes electrodes used to drive the display panel, The driving signal Tx applied to the pressure electrode is simultaneously applied to at least one of the electrodes used to drive the display panel. The capacitance detected at the pressure electrode changes according to a change in distance between the pressure electrode and the substrate due to the pressure applied to the touch surface, And calculate a magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface based on a detection capacitance calculated from the capacitance detected at the pressure electrode. The method of claim 1, And the pressure electrode is formed directly on the display panel. The method of claim 2, The display panel includes a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer disposed below the first substrate layer. And the pressure electrode is formed directly on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer. The method of claim 1, Further comprising a pressure sensor having said pressure electrode, The pressure sensor further includes a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, The pressure electrode is disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, And one of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer is attached to the display panel. A touch input device capable of detecting pressure of a touch on a touch surface, A display module including a display panel and having a reference potential layer; A substrate disposed under the display module; And At least one pressure electrode formed on the substrate; The driving signal Tx applied to the pressure electrode is simultaneously applied to the substrate, The capacitance detected at the pressure electrode changes according to a change in distance between the pressure electrode and the reference potential layer due to the pressure applied to the touch surface, And calculate a magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface based on a detection capacitance calculated from the capacitance detected at the pressure electrode. The method of claim 5, And the pressure electrode is formed directly on the substrate. The method of claim 5, Further comprising a pressure sensor having said pressure electrode, The pressure sensor further includes a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, The pressure electrode is disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, And one of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer is attached to the substrate. A touch input device capable of detecting pressure of a touch on a touch surface, A display module including a display panel; A substrate disposed under the display module; A first pressure electrode formed on the display panel; And A second pressure electrode formed on the substrate; The display panel includes electrodes used to drive the display panel, The driving signal Tx applied to any one of the first pressure electrode and the second pressure electrode is applied to at least one of the electrodes and the substrate of at least one of the electrodes used to drive the display panel. Applied at the same time, According to a change in the distance between the first pressure electrode and the second pressure electrode due to the pressure applied to the touch surface, the other electrode of the first pressure electrode and the second pressure electrode to which the driving signal is not applied The capacitance detected changes, And calculate the magnitude of the pressure applied to the touch surface based on the detection capacitance calculated from the capacitance detected at the other electrode. The method of claim 8, The one electrode is the first pressure electrode, And the other electrode is the second pressure electrode. The method of claim 8, And the first pressure electrode is formed directly on the display panel. The method of claim 8, A pressure sensor having said second pressure electrode, The pressure sensor further includes a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, The second pressure electrode is disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, And one of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer is attached to the substrate. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, And the display panel is bent by the pressure applied to the touch surface.

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